{"product_id":"emerald-lustre-norway-maple","title":"Emerald Lustre Norway Maple","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Fast, Tough Shade Tree With Glossy Green Leaves and Golden Fall\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmerald Lustre Norway Maple (\u003cem\u003eAcer platanoides\u003c\/em\u003e 'Pond') is a vigorous Norway maple selected for its broad oval crown and glossy, deep-green summer foliage that turns bright yellow in fall. It establishes fast, casts dense, dependable shade, and shrugs off the clay and compacted soils that defeat fussier trees — all while staying hardy through USDA zone 3. Whether you need quick shade over a Maple Grove backyard, a uniform boulevard tree in St. Paul, or a tough, low-fuss specimen in Burnsville, Emerald Lustre delivers shade in a hurry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEmerald Lustre Norway Maple Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAcer platanoides\u003c\/em\u003e 'Pond' (EMERALD LUSTRE)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEmerald Lustre Norway Maple, Norway Maple\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e45–50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e35–40 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFast — about 2–3 feet per year in Minnesota once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hrs); tolerates light shade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Tolerates average rainfall once established; quite adaptable to dry spells.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — exceptionally cold-hardy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery adaptable — tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, compacted, and urban soils. Prefers well-drained loam but handles tough sites.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — glossy, deep-green leaves; broad, dense oval crown\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFall Color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBright yellow\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to USDA zone 3 — one of the hardier large shade trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerately deer-resistant; protect the trunk from buck rub the first 2 winters\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot native — native to Europe. Very tough and fast; casts dense shade and has shallow, competitive roots, so plan placement accordingly.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEmerald Lustre Norway Maple Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFast Dense-Shade Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you want shade quickly, Emerald Lustre is hard to beat — it grows 2–3 feet a year and forms a broad, dense canopy that throws deep shade over a patio or backyard. It's a strong, fast-establishing replacement for ash trees lost to emerald ash borer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Urban and Clay-Site Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorway maples are famous for toughness, tolerating compacted, clay, and urban soils that stress other trees. Emerald Lustre is a dependable boulevard and commercial-landscape tree for hard sites in Bloomington and Burnsville.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUniform Group and Street Plantings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts consistent oval shape makes it well suited to matched group plantings and street rows where uniformity matters. Because the canopy is dense and the roots are shallow and competitive, give it an open spot rather than expecting lawn or perennials to thrive directly beneath it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Emerald Lustre Norway Maple in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in \u003cstrong\u003espring (late April–May, after the ground thaws)\u003c\/strong\u003e for a full season of root establishment, or in \u003cstrong\u003eearly fall (late August–early October)\u003c\/strong\u003e while the soil is still warm. Get it in the ground at least six weeks before the ground freezes — typically mid-November in the Twin Cities. Avoid mid-summer planting in heat and humidity, and never plant after mid-October or before spring thaw.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Emerald Lustre Norway Maple\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width but only as deep as the ball is tall, so the root flare sits at or slightly above grade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck for clay hardpan — if water pools and won't drain, break through the clay layer or mound-plant slightly to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't build a pure-compost \"container\" the roots won't grow beyond.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — give a single specimen 25–30 feet of clearance; keep it away from spots where you want lawn or garden directly beneath, since it shades and roots heavily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch watering ring to direct water to the roots, then flatten it before winter so it doesn't trap ice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips in a wide ring, kept 2 inches off the trunk. Never use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate roots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Emerald Lustre Norway Maple in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 1–2: water deeply and slowly every 1–2 days. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3–6: every 5–7 days during active growth, easing off when rainfall is adequate (the Twin Cities average about 3 inches a month from June through August). \u003cstrong\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes\u003c\/strong\u003e — usually late October — so the tree doesn't push tender growth heading into winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce established, Emerald Lustre is very low-maintenance and quite drought-tolerant, needing supplemental water mainly during extended droughts (two-plus weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Soak deeply to 8–12 inches every 7–14 days when needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Emerald Lustre Norway Maple survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. It's rated to USDA zone 3 and is reliably hardy in Twin Cities winters. Wrap the young trunk the first winter to prevent sunscald and buck rub.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow fast does it grow here?\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast for a large shade tree — about 2–3 feet per year in good Minnesota soil, which is a big reason Norway maples are so widely planted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native to Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — Norway maple is native to Europe. It's a tough, fast, widely planted shade tree. Because it casts dense shade and has shallow, competitive roots, place it where you don't need lawn or a garden directly underneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it tolerate clay and urban soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — exceptionally well. Norway maples handle compacted, clay, and tough city soils better than most shade trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I grow grass under it?\u003c\/strong\u003e Not easily. Its dense canopy and shallow roots make the ground beneath dry and shady, so plan for mulch or shade-tolerant groundcover rather than turf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoyal Red Norway Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — the same toughness with dramatic burgundy-purple foliage all summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRed Sunset Red Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fast-growing native-type maple with brilliant orange-red fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState Street Miyabe Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tough, salt- and clay-tolerant maple for boulevards and hard sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkyline Honeylocust\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fine-textured shade tree that casts light, dappled shade where you do want lawn beneath.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNorthwood Red Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a University of Minnesota red maple bred for extreme cold-hardiness.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Emerald Lustre Norway Maples Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a single-specimen shade tree, not a hedging plant. One tree shades a typical Twin Cities backyard — give it \u003cstrong\u003e25–30 feet of clearance\u003c\/strong\u003e from the house, driveway, and other large trees so the 35–40 foot crown develops evenly. For a uniform street or property-line row, plant on \u003cstrong\u003e30–35 foot centers\u003c\/strong\u003e; a 100-foot frontage takes 3–4 trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEmerald Lustre Norway Maple Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clusters of small chartreuse-yellow flowers appear before the leaves, followed by new foliage that emerges with a reddish tinge before turning glossy green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A broad, dense oval crown of glossy deep-green leaves throws some of the deepest, coolest shade of any landscape tree.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage turns bright clear yellow, typically holding late into October in the metro.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e A sturdy, uniform oval branch structure stands up well to ice and snow load.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Salt-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sunset-red-maple\"\u003eRed Sunset Red Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — pairs golden fall color with brilliant orange-red on the same lot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/state-street-miyabe-maple\"\u003eState Street Miyabe Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — fellow tough boulevard maple for hard, salty sites nearby.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/northwood-red-maple\"\u003eNorthwood Red Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — U of M-bred cold-hardy maple to diversify a multi-tree planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/crimson-sentry-maple\"\u003eCrimson Sentry Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — compact purple-leaf Norway maple for a narrow accent near the big canopy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Emerald Lustre Norway Maple Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Emerald Lustre if you want \u003cstrong\u003efast, dense shade on a tough site\u003c\/strong\u003e — compacted clay, boulevard strips, urban lots — with zone-3 hardiness and almost no fuss. \u003cstrong\u003eNot a fit if\u003c\/strong\u003e you want lawn or a garden under the canopy (its dense shade and shallow roots win that fight), or if you're prioritizing native species — it's a European maple, so consider a red maple or hackberry instead for native plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260806418737,"sku":"GT-T0269","price":343.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260806451505,"sku":"GT-T0270","price":370.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260806484273,"sku":"GT-T0280","price":425.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3\"BB","offer_id":54260806517041,"sku":"GT-T0281","price":480.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/emerald-lustre-norway-maple.jpg?v=1779426698","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/emerald-lustre-norway-maple","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}